Excavating machine



1,625, 12 April 2q, 1927. B' M ROLPH 9 EXCAVATING MACHINE Filxd Aug. 2, 1924 5 Sheets-Shee'k l ma w CCW W IN Vf/YTE 1,625, 12 April 26,1927. B. M. ROLPH 9 EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2,y 1924 5 sheets-,sheet g WaaW/M ,AXA Arron/MY 2 1927. April 6 B. M. RoLPH EXCAVATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2. 1924 5 sheets-sheer 5 April '26, 1927. 1,625,912

B. M. RoLPH EXCAW-ATING MACHINE Filed Aug. 2, 1924 5v sheets-sheet 4 @www www,

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Apyfilv 29,1927. 1 1,625,912

B. M. ROLPH EXCAVA'IIING MACHINE medAug. 2, 1924 5 sheets-511991 5 TIEL 7 m mme/vn Patented Apr. 26, 1927.

UNITED" STATES BENJAMINM. ROLPI-I, OF DIXON, LLINOS.

EXCAVATING MACHINE.

Application filed August 2, 1924.

My invention has reference to excavating machines, the chief purpose of which is toI provide means for the removal of a quantity of earth from a street, road, or othery place in an expeditious manner, and Without" having to resort to the sloiv and tedious method of loading the dirt into Wagons by means of h and-shovels as is the present practice. It `also displaces to a large extent the present steam shovel, being` of much lighter huild, and .capable of being loperated morer rapidly and to greater vadvantage than With one ofsaid steam shovels. K

rlhe machine is selfpropelled, capable of cuttingY ar trench or -excavationot' several feetin Widtln'in onemovement of themachine` To accomplish this the machine has agradual forward movement, ac-

companied by an oscillatii'ig. lateral move-` ment of the excavating devices.

The excavating devices consist of a large Wheel rotatably mounted in the front of the machine, and provided with a plurality of buckets for successive engagement with the 'lhesebuckets'are also of a special.

earth. construction, to permit the delivery of the contents thereof `to a conveyorprovided for that purpose.`

Then ythe `machine isinact-ion there are source of power carried by the machine. One of these groups moves the machine forfili tm i i `Ward, or the reverse, ifvrequired, another group impartsrotation to the ditching Wheel, still another group of devices operates `to swing-'the ditching' `Wheel from side to side Within predetermined limits simul- 'thneouslyivith the forward movement of themachine, while another group provides means for carrying' the excavated material to on-eiside of the line of travel of the machine. Associated with l said various groups of mechanisms are devices forV reducing` and: otherwise Vvarying 'the speed of the various- 20, rotatablvmounted in thev rear end of the parte, and meansfor disabling the various mechanisn'is, independently or eachother.

T he foregoing, and other features and ad- Wirf. vlis a perspective 'vieivfr of a machine embodying' the invention-,1 Withjsoine port-ions s andv is ges'of the invention vwillbeg'more fullyA had. toiV the drawings; acc'om- 1 Serial No. 729,840.

Fig. f2 is a detail of one of the tread devices and power transmission mechanism therefor. y

Fig-3 is a forward end elevation of the nia-chine;v

Fig. 4C is an elevation of the ditching` Wheel supporting frame, and operating devices therefor,- fromv 1:the i front thereof.

Fig. f5 is a ldetail of the ditching Wheel, and` appurtenant devices.`

.Figi` (-isa front end View of the frame structure.

Fig; is a plan View, showing various povver transmission mechanism.

Thefreference' number l indicates a main frame, provided With arearward extension 2, upon which is supported an internal comi bastion engine, under the casing-shown at 3. rlhe framel is supported by a pair of caterpillar devices7 each;con'iprising` a continuous tread 5, passing round a drum supported on a' shaft 6, pivetedin a frame 7, secured tothe frame l. By'this means the frame l is-capable of a rocking movement on the shafts 6.- The apron 5 passes round Wheels 8 'rotatablysupported in the forward end of a frame 9, having` a pivotal. mounting on the shaft 6. The frame 9 is connected With the "rame 1,? so as to have a limited vieldal'zle movement With relation thereto. `by means of' atension device, shoivn` at l0. Fixed on the shaft 6 is a Sprocket-wheel 1l., connected by a sprocket-chain l2 with a sprocket pinion 13 on the end of a shaft il, journalled on the frame l. Each side of themachine is provided with one of the shafts 14, for independent operation of the caterpillar` devices, in the manner herein after set forth.

The rea-r end ofthe machine fitted with a pair of carrying-Wheels l5,.carried on the ends oflan axle 1G, supported from a pair of armsl, pivoted at their forward ends to the frame i, as at a. Fixed to the rear ends of the arms 17 are arcsshaped rear-racks i8, in engagement withY gear Wheels 19 on a shaft frameg; Fixed to said shaft at one side of thcJframeis a worm drive Wheel 2l, engaged by agivorm i2 on-the end of a shaft, rotatably: supported onithe frame 2. The for- Wardend of thejshaft 3i-s journalledfin a bearingin a sup-port 24;. and ias-provided with aV sprocket-f, Wheel lL5, connected h v sproeket-fehtliir, with a similar .Wheel 2T on a shaft 28,l rotatably y' mounted inthe' support 24, and provided with a hand-wheel 29, by means of which the same may be rotated. By a proper rotation of the shaft E28 the gear wheels 19 are caused to move u] \.vardly on the racks 13, elevating the rear part of the main frame, and correspondingly depressing the forward part, for the purpose hereinafter set forth. i

Supported on the frame 1 is an arch frame 31, having a top piece 3Q, and within said frame is a. frame 33, pivoted at a central point to the top-piece 32, at its upper end, and similarly pivoted at its lower end on a cross-piece 34, forming the lower part of the arch-frame 31. To the side-pieces of the frame 33 are attached a pair of rectangular frames 35, projected forwardly, and united at their forward ends by cross-bars 36. Said last-named frames are further secured to the frame 33 by braces 37, extending upwardly to the upper part of the frame 33. Rods 38 connect the frame 31 with the rear end of the frame 1, whereby the first-named frame is enabled to carry the weight of the frame 35, and the mechanism ,supported thereby.

The frame 35 is capable of receiving a lateral swinging movement by means of the following mechanism, shown more specially in Figures 1 and 4. Mounted on the forward part of the frame 1 at one side thereof is a vertical frame 40, braced by a rod 41, extending to the opposite side of the frame 1, and secured thereto. Rotatably supported on the upper part of the frame 40 is a shaft 42, to which is fixed a gear-wheel 43, in mesh with a gear-pinion 44 on a shaft 45, rotatably mounted on the side of the frame 1. Movement is imparted to the shaft 45, in the manner hereinafter shown, for giving rotation to the pinion 44 and wheel 43. Projected from one side of the wheel 43 is a crank-member 46, connected by a pitinan 47 with a frame 48, attached to a vertical piece 49 uniting the longitudinal pieces of the frame 35 at the side of the machine farthest from the wheel 43, at a point in advance of the frame 31. A rotation of the wheel 43 imparts a swinging movement to the frame 33 on its pivots, farrying the frame 35 from one side to the other of the line of movement of the machine, and the reverse.

1n the forward end ofthe frames 35 is journalled a shaft 51, on which is a roller 5:2 in engagement with the inner face of a rim 53. The central part of the periphery of said roller is fitted with teeth 54, for engagement with a plurality of openings 55 in the rim At the opposite side said rim` is supported by a roller 56 on a shaft 57 journaled on the frames 35. The inner face ofthe rim is also engaged by a roller 53. rotatably mounted on the lower side of ,said frames 35, On one end of the shaft 51 is a sprocket-wheel 59, connected by a sprocketchain GO with a similar wheel 61, fixed on a shaft 62, journaled in one of the frame pieces 33. Movement is imparted to the sha-ft (52 in a manner hereinafter set forth, to drive the wheels 61 and 59, causing a rotation of the rim Projected from said rim are pairs of supports G4 and G5, to which are attached scoops GG, having cutters GG at their forward edges. The bottoms of said scoops are formed of pairs of plates (57, hinged at a central point of the scoop to a rod 63, extending longitudinally thereof.y Each scoop receives a load of dirt at the lowermost point in the movement of the wheel, and carries it to the uppermost point, where it is discharged upon a carrier, as hereinafter set forth. In the passage of the scoops upwardly the outer edges of the plates (37 travel on tracks 69, supported from the frames 35, and following the curve of the rim` 53. Said tracks terminate at the top of the rim, permitting the bottoni plates of the chutes to drop open.

The mechanism for conveying the contents of the scoops to one side of the machine, shown chiefly in Figures 1 and 3, is as follows Attached to the side pieces of the frame 31, and projected forwardly therefrom, is

a pair of arms 70, the forward ends of which are supported from the upper part of said frame by rods Secured to the :forward ends of the arms 70 is a frame 71, disposed transversely of the machine, and passing through the rim 53, near the upper part thereof. Said frame is also braced from the upper part of the frame 31 by means of rods 71, the spread of said rods and of the rods 70 being sufficient to permit thc oscillating movement of the ditchingwheel between the same. The frame 71 is provided at intervals with rollers 72, which 'a1-ry an endless apron 73, adapted to receive the loads of earth as they are discharged from the scoops 6G. At one end of the frame said apron passes over a drum on a shaft 74, fixed on which is a sprocket-wheel 75, connected by a chain 76 with a similar wheel 77, on the end of a shaft 7 8, journaled at one end in the frame 71 and at its other end on the frame 3l.. Fixed to the rear cud of said shaft is a sprocket-wheel 79, connected by a sprocket-chain 80 with a similar wheel 81, on a shaft 32, journaled on the frame 1. (Fig. 7.) Said last-named shaft is driven in the manner hereinafter de scribed,` causing a movement of the apron 73 at auch times as the ditching wheel is in operation. The earth and other matter rcceived on said apron is carried to one end thereof, and dumped upon the ground at one side of the machine, or into wagons positioned beneath the end of the apron, by means of which it is cartecl away.

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The main portion of the transmission devices, by means of which movement is imparted to the various mechanisms, is illustrated in Fig. 7, in `which the main driveshaft of the machine is shown at a central point at 83. Se is a transmission casing just ahead of the motor, containing devices of a well-known type by means of which the shaft S3 may be given two or more speeds ahead, and a reverse movement. Said devices are under the control of a rod and hand-lever 8G, and would be employed chiefly when tho machine is in movement on the road, `with the ditching mechanism out of operation.

The shaft 83 is connected by sprocket transmission gearing at 87 with a shaft 88, rotatably supported and connected with transmission gearing in a casing 89, of a speed-reducing character. This last-named gearing is connected with a differential gear mechanism ina casing 90, from the opposite ends of which project shafts 91 and 92, carrying sprocket-pinions on their ends which are connected by ychains 93 with sprocketwheels 94 on the shafts 14. The power of the motor can be thereby applied independently to the tractor devices upon which the machine is carried. The shafts 91 and 92 also carry brake-drums 95 encircled by bands 96, one of which bands is controlled by a rod 9,7, connected with a short arm on a shaft` 98, rockingly mounted on` the frame 1, and provided with a. hand-lever 99. The other band 96 is connected by a rodi 100 with an arm on a sleeve 101, rockinglymounted on the shaft 98, independentlythereof, said sleeve being. fitted with a hand-lever 102 for operation. Then either of the brake-,bands is caused to embrace its correlated brake drum, the shaft on which such drum is fixed will be held from operation, and the tractor devices on that side of` the machine `will be interrupted from action. The continued movement of .such devices at the opposite side of the machine will result in a movement of such machine out of a straight line. In the same manner the disabling of the tractor mechanism at the opposite side of the machine willcause a divergence of shown' at 105. to, a shaft 106, rotatablyV niounted on lthe frame V1, andfromthis shaft through transmission gear devices 107 to a shaft 108 also `rot-atably vinou-i'ited onthe..

Tlliisis accomplished in part mounted on apartof the main frame. Theshaft 111 is connected by a transmission gearing 112 with a shaft 113, rotatably mounted just above the shaft 88. Fixed on the shaft 113 is gear-wheel 114;, adapted for engagement with a similar whe-el 1,15,

feathered on the shaft S8, and capable of being shifted into and outof meshw-ith the wheel 114;` by means of clutch devices 116, controlled by a lever 117, fulcruined on the frame. engagement with the wheel 114, the transmission devices are disabled by means of a clutch mechanism at 118 connected therewith.

There is notionly a reduction of movement through the transmission devices shown at lOand 107, but the wheel is of greater diameter than the wheel 109, resulting in a greater reduction of speed when said devices are in operation.

moved forward at a very moderate rate of speed.

The shaft 111 is also connected by a gear transmission shown at 12() with the shaft L15, for swinging the frames Safrcm one side to the other. This is also done at a-moderate rate` of speed, on account of being affected by the various reductions of speed hereinbefore referred to.l It will also be noted that the frame 35. will not be in movementwhen there is a,v direct connection with the traction devices` through the shaft 8S, as first described.

The shaft 10.8 'is connected by a gear transmission 121 with the rear end of the shaft 82, associated with the conveyor devices, andafter the Wheels 109 and 110 are disengaged, the apron 73 will continue to travel, discharging any substance that may be thereon.

On the inn-eil` end of the shaft 62, is a bevel-gear wheel 122, (Fig. 4,) in engagement with asimilar wheel 123 on the upper end of a. vertical .shaft 1241 supported at a central point in the frame 31. Said wheels are held in al supportingcasing 125, as shown in Fig. 1. 0n the lower end of thefshaft 124 is a bevel-gear wheel 126, supported on a fra-ine 127, secured to` the cross-piece 34. The gear-wheel 12d-is engagedby asimilar wheel 128;, on theend of a shaft 129, in line with-the main drivershaft 8,3, andj adapted to beconnected therewith by-acl-utch coupling 139,: providedwith a collar- 1231 for engagemcntbyan operators-lever 18.9. By

Slidable on the shaft 108, and .I

As a result the machine lVhen the wheel is shifted into *In this means the scoop wheel mechanism can be operated independently of the other devices, and thrown out of operation when it is desired to run some of the other groups .if mechanism independently thereof.

In addition to the method hereinbefore set forth for turning the machine out of a straight lin-e, the carrying wheels at the rear end thereof may be of the usual automobile construction and arrangement, the shifting' devices thereof being connected by a rod 133 with the lower end of a steering-post 134-, provided with a steering-wheel 135. ln proximity thereto is supported from the frame of the machine a small platform 13", for the convenience of the operator, in running the machine.

It is believed that the complete operation of the machine will be readily understood. lilith all of the various mechanisms in operation the ditching wheel, while in rotation, swings gradually from one side to the oth-er, cutting a path several feet in width, in which the machine travels. In order to cause the. scoops to function properly the rear end of the machine is elevated a little, giving a corresponding depression to the it'orward end, and causing the scoops tovengage the earth. Then a desired depth has been attained the position of the machine is adjusted again. The machine is of special advantage for road grading, cutting away the side of a hill, and the like.

lll/'hat I claim, and 'desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

l. A device of the class described, comprising an automotive vehicle, a frame pivotally mounted in said vehicle so as to swing, in a horizontal plane; an excavating wheel rotatably mounted in the free end of said swinging frame, means for imparting the force of the motive element of said vehicle to said fr: me, to give an oscillating movement thereto; and means for imparting the force of said motive element to said ditching wheel, to cause a rotatory movement thereof, coincidently with the oscillating movement of said frame.

A device of the class described,'com prising a portable frame, and motor snp ported thereon, and capableof propelling the same; an arch frame supported on said portable frame; a frame supported from said arch frame, so as to be `capable of swinging in a horizontal plane; an excavating wheel rotatably mounted inthe free end of said swinging frame; an endless carrier supported from said arch frame, transversely of the machine, and extending through said excavating wheel, so as to receive material therefrom in any position that said wheel is in;` means for imparting the movement of said motor to said excavat mg wheel, to give rotation thereto; means tor imparting movement from saidm'otor to said swinging frame, to cause an oscillation thereof, coincidently with the rotation of said wheel; and means for imparting the movement of said motor to said endless lari-ier, to cause the operation thereof, also coincidently with the rotation of said wheel.

3. In a device of the class described, a portable frame; a horizontally swinging frame supported therefrom; an excavating wheel supported in the free end of said swinging frame, provided with a plurality of scoops having hinged bottoms adapted to open downwardly when said scoops are at the upper part of said wheel; tracks for holding said bottoms closed in the upward movement of said scoops; and a conveyor mechanism, supported within said wheel. and capable of receiving material from said scoops upon the same being discharged therefrom, in anyposition which said wheel may be in.

Il. In a device of the class described, a portable frame, and motor carried thereon, and adapted for the propulsion thereof; 'in arch frame supported on said portable frame; a frame pivotally mounted in said arch f nine, so as to be movable on a vertical axis; a frame supported from said last-named frame, so as to project forwardly from said portable frame; an excavating wheel rotatably mounted in the free end of said forwardly projecting frame; transmission devices connecting said last-named frame with saidmotor, so as to impart a moderate oscil lating movement to said frame; and means for imparting the movement of said motor to said wheel, to operate the same coincidently with the movement of said oscillating frame.

5. In a device of the class described, a main frame and tractor devices supporting the same, so as to permit a rocking movement of said frame thereon; a motor carried b y said frame, and operatively connected with said tractor devices, to cause a propulsion of said frame; a frame pivotally mounted in said main frame, so as to be capable of oscillation in a horizintal plane; an excavating wheel carried by said oscillating frame; means for tilting said main frame, so as to depress or elevate said excavating wheel, as desired; means for imparting to said oscillating frame a gradual swinging movement; and means for operating said excavating wheel coincidently therewith.

6. In a device of the class described, a main frame and pair of tractor devices supporting the same near the forward end there of; a motor carried by said frame; auxiliary carrying wheels at the rear end of said frame; a horizontally swinging frame supported from said main frame, so as to project forwardly therefrom: an excavating wheel rotatably mounted in the free end of said swinging traine; a conveyor mechanism passlill) ing through said excavating wheel, and supported from said main frame, adapted to receive material from said excavating wheel; transmission devices connecting said motor with said tractor' devices, so as to operate the same independently of each other; means for arresting the movement of either of said tractor devices, independently of the other; transmission devices connecting said motor with said swinging frame, to impart a moderate oscillating movement thereto; means connecting said motor with said excavating wheel coincidently with the oscillation of said frame; and transmission devices connecting said motor with said conveyor, to actuate the same coincidently with the movement of said frame and excavating wheel.

7. In a device of the class described, a main frame, and pair of tractor devices supporting the forward end thereof; auxiliary carrying devices yat the rear end of said frame; a frame supported from said main frame so as to be capable of a horizontal swinging movement thereon; an excavating wheel rotatably carried by said swinging frame; transmission devices connecting said motor with said tractor devices at a reduced rate of speed; auxiliary transmission devices connecting said tractor devices with said motor, so as to actuate said tractor devices at a relatively greater rate of speed, independently of said first-named transmission devices; means connecting said motor with said swinging frame, to cause a moderate swinging movement thereof, coincidently with the reduced operation of said tractors; and transmission devices connecting said motor with said excavating wheel, to cause a. rotation thereof, coincidently with the movement of said machine and swinging frame.

8. In a devi-ce of theclass described, a port-able frame, a. motor mounted thereon, and main drive-shaft thereof, a pair of traction devices supporting said frame near the forward end thereof; transmission devices connecting said shaft with said traction devices, so as to impart independent movement thereto; an arch frame supported on said main frame; a frame supported in said arch frame, so as to be capable of swinging on a vertical axis; a frame supported from said swinging frame; an excavating wheel carried by said last-named frame; gearing supported in said swinging frame operatively' connected with said main drive shaft; and transmission devices connecting said gearing with said excavating wheel, and carried on the support-ing frame therefor.

In testin'iony1 whereof I aiiix my signature.

BENJAMIN M. ROLPH. 

